Tool for bore diameter work

ABSTRACT

In the tool for bore diameter work of the present invention, first and second chip restraining faces are provided opposite each other on a chip installation section, and have projecting V-shapes parallel to the longitudinal direction of a shank. The top and bottom faces of the chip have indented V-shapes in correspondence with the first and second chip restraining faces. When a clamp bolt is tightened, the first chip restraining face elastically changes shape toward the second chip restraining face, pressingly securing the chip in the shank. Therefore, the chip can be easily attached and removed, and high installation rigidity of the chip can be maintained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a tool for bore diameter work, used in bore diameter work such as, for example, boring, inserting grooves, and screw-cutting.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Japanese Patent Application, First Publication, No. 11-277309 discloses one example of a conventional tool for bore diameter work of this type.

[0005] In this type of tool for bore diameter work, the flat base of a throw-away chip (hereinafter abbreviated as “chip”), comprising a small-diameter rod-like section having a cutting-blade, is secured in a chip pocket at the tip portion of a long holder by a securing bolt which passes through the flat base; in addition, the side faces of the flat base are positioned by two wall faces, which stand out from the chip seat face of the chip pocket.

[0006] However, in the tool for bore diameter work described above, it is troublesome to insert and remove the chip, since the securing bolt which passes through the flat base of the chip must be extracted in order to do this.

[0007] Furthermore, since the side faces of the flat base are positioned by the two wall faces, which stand out from the chip seat face of the chip pocket, a slight difference between the shape of the chip pocket and the shape of the flat base reduces the installation rigidity of the chip, and any force sustained when carrying out cutting work (in particular, a force which is parallel to the flat base and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the holder) is liable to jolt the chip and reduce the positioning precision of the cutting-blade of the chip.

[0008] There are ways of increasing the installation rigidity of the chip, such as using a set bolt to press the side faces of the flat base as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication, No. 2000-71113. However, this tool for bore diameter work has the same drawback that the chip cannot be inserted or removed without completely extracting the set bolt. Moreover, the use of the set bolt increases the number of components and makes the tool more troublesome to use.

[0009] Attempts have been made to facilitate the insertion and removal of the chip, such as in the tool for bore diameter work disclosed in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication, No. 2000-246515. However, since securing the chip in the holder by using the head of a clamp bolt to press a slope which is provided on the top face of the chip, there is point- or line-contact between the chip and the clamp bolt, and consequently, the problem of chip installation rigidity remains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention has been realized in view of the circumstances described above, and aims to provide a cutting tool in which the chip has high installation rigidity and can be easily removed and inserted.

[0011] In order to achieve the above objects, the tool for bore diameter work according to the present invention comprises a pair of chip restraining faces, provided opposite each other at a tip portion of a shank, which is pressed by a clamping unit so that the pair of chip restraining faces move closer to each other, thereby pressingly securing top and bottom faces of a throw-away chip, which directly contacts the paid of chip restraining faces. The throw-away chip comprises a substantially rod-like protrusion having a cutting-blade, which projects to the tip side of the shank. The pair of chip restraining faces have an indented or projecting V-shape parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank, and the top and bottom faces of the throw-away chip have a projecting or indented V-shape which can connect with the pair of chip restraining faces.

[0012] According to this constitution, the chip is pressingly secured when the indented or projecting V-shaped chip restraining faces mesh with the top and bottom faces of the chip, which are shaped in correspondence therewith. Therefore, superior chip installation rigidity and chip positioning precision can be maintained.

[0013] Furthermore, since the chip restraining faces have indented or projecting V-shapes parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank, the rigidity is especially strong against a force from the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the shank at the time of cutting.

[0014] Moreover, the pressing force exerted by the chip restraining faces against the top and bottom faces of the chip can be reduced by using a clamping unit to slightly loosen the clamp, thereby allowing the chip to be attached and removed easily and increasing workability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a top view of a tool for bore diameter work according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a side view of the tool for bore diameter work of FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a front view of the tool for bore diameter work of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a top view of a chip which is installed in the tool for bore diameter work of FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a side view of the chip which is installed in the tool for bore diameter work of FIG. 1.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a front view of the chip which is installed in the tool for bore diameter work of FIG. 1.

[0021]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how the tool for bore diameter work of FIG. 1 is used in boring work.

[0022]FIG. 8A is a front view of the tool for bore diameter work according to another embodiment of the present invention with the chip installed.

[0023]FIG. 8B is a front view of the tool for bore diameter work according to another embodiment of the present invention with the chip installed.

[0024]FIG. 8C is a front view of the tool for bore diameter work according to another embodiment of the present invention with the chip installed.

[0025]FIG. 9 is a top view of another embodiment of the chip which is installed in the tool for bore diameter work of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 10 is a side view of the chip of FIG. 9.

[0027]FIG. 11 is a front view of the chip of FIG. 9.

[0028]FIG. 12A is a front view of another embodiment of the chip which is installed in the tool for bore diameter work of the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 12B is a front view of another embodiment of the chip which is installed in the tool for bore diameter work of the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 12C is a front view of another embodiment of the chip which is installed in the tool for bore diameter work of the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an embodiment where the present invention is applied in a tool for bore diameter work for inserting grooves.

[0032]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an embodiment where the present invention is applied in a tool for bore diameter work for screw-cutting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033] An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034]FIG. 1 is a top view of a tool for bore diameter work according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view of the tool for bore diameter work, FIG. 3 is a front view of the tool for bore diameter work, FIG. 4 is a top view of a chip which is installed in the tool for bore diameter work, FIG. 5 is a side view of the same chip, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the same chip.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the tool for bore diameter work 10 according to this embodiment has a substantially square-column shank 11, the tip portion 11A of the shank 11 extending from the base side section of the shank 11 via a sloping side face 11B to the upper side of the thick side (the up-down direction in FIGS. 2 and 3) so as to increase the thickness thereof.

[0036] A slit 12 which parallels to the top and bottom faces of the shank 11, runs from the tip face 11E of the shank 11 toward the base side to a position nearly touching the sloping side face 11B, thereby dividing the tip portion 11A of the shank 11 into two sections.

[0037] At the divided tip portion 11A of the shank 11, the tip portion 11A on the upper side of the slit 12 becomes a first chip restraining section 13, and the tip portion 11A on the lower side of the slit 12 becomes a second chip restraining section 14. In the first chip restraining section 13, the slit 12 runs to the position which nearly touches the sloping side face 11B of the shank 11, and the root section of its base side becomes thin section. As a result, with this thin section as a fulcrum, the first chip restraining section 13 can be elastically change the shape thereof toward the second chip restraining section 14 side.

[0038] A chip installation section 15 for attaching a chip 20 (explained later) is provided at the tip portion 11A of the shank 11 by providing openings in the tip face 11E and one side face 11C of the shank 11, and cutting away the tip portion 11A of the shank 11 along the longitudinal direction of the shank 11 so as to connect to the slit 12. The length of the chip installation section 15 along the longitudinal direction of the shank 11 is shorter than that of the slit 12.

[0039] The chip installation section 15 comprises a wall face 15A which faces the same direction as one side face 11C of the shank 11, a side face 15B which faces the tip face 11E of the shank 11 in which a base face 21B of the chip main body 21 being positioned by directly contacting the side face 15B at the time of attaching the chip 20, and first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17 which face each other at the top and bottom (parallel to the thick side of the shank 11). Furthermore, since a slit 12 is provided in the wall face 15A, which faces the side same as the side face 11C of the shank 11, the first chip restraining face 16 is provided in the first chip restraining section 13 on the upper side of the slit 12, and the second chip restraining face 17 is provided in the second chip restraining section 14 on the lower side of the slit 12.

[0040] The first chip restraining face 16, provided in the first chip restraining section 13, comprises two flat side walls 16A; the intersection ridgeline of the side walls 16A extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank 11, and the first chip restraining face 16 forms a projecting V-shape parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank 11.

[0041] That is, when viewed in cross-section at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the shank 11, the cross-sectional shape of the first chip restraining face 16 is a projecting V-shape, gradually protruding to the lower side as it approaches the approximate center, parallel to the width of the first chip restraining face 16.

[0042] Furthermore, chamfering 16B is provided at the intersection ridgeline of the wall faces 16A in the first chip restraining face 16.

[0043] The second chip restraining face 17, provided in the second chip restraining section 14, comprises two flat side walls 17A and forms a projecting V-shape parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank 11; in addition, chamfering 16B is provided at the intersection ridgeline of the wall faces 17A. Thus, the second chip restraining face 17 has the same shape as the first chip restraining face 16.

[0044] Recesses 15C are provided at the upper and lower sides of the bottom face 15B of the chip installation section 15.

[0045] At the tip portion 11A of the shank 11, a clamp hole 18 is provided near the other side face 11D of the shank 11, but not connecting to the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17, and passes through the tip portion 11A of the shank 11 parallel to the thick side thereof. A clamp bolt 19 is tightly screwed into the clamp hole 18, and the head 19A of the clamp bolt 19 presses against the first chip restraining section 13, which elastically changes its shape toward the second chip restraining section 14. In other words, the first chip restraining face 16 provided on the first chip restraining section 13, and the second chip restraining face 17 provided on the second chip restraining section 14, elastically change their shape toward each other and press against the top face 23 and bottom face 24 of the chip 20, which is attached in direct contact with the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the chip 20 is attached to the chip installation section 15 and comprises a chip main body 21 having the shape of a substantially square column, and a protrusion 22, which protrudes from the tip side of the chip main body 21 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the chip main body 21.

[0047] The chip main body 21 has a top face 23 which comprises two flat wall faces 23A, the intersection ridgeline of the wall faces 23A and 23A extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the chip 20 and forming an indented V-shape, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the chip 20.

[0048] That is, when viewed in cross-section at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the chip 20, the top face 23 has an indented V-shape, gradually protruding to the lower side as it approaches the approximate center, in a direction parallel to the width of the top face 23. Therefore, the shape of the top face 23 corresponds to that of the first chip restraining face 16.

[0049] Furthermore, chamfered sections 23B are provided at the sections of the face 23 where the wall faces 23A meet the side faces 21A of the chip main body 21.

[0050] The bottom face 24 of the chip main body 21 similarly comprises two wall faces 24A, and has an indented V-shape parallel to the longitudinal direction of the chip 20; in addition, chamfering sections 24B are provided at the section on the bottom face 24 where the wall faces 24A meet the side faces 21A of the chip main body 21. Thus the bottom face 24 has the same shape as the second chip restraining face 17.

[0051] Preferably, the narrow angle θ between the two flat wall faces 23A forming the top face 23, and the narrow angle θ between the two flat wall faces 24A forming the top face 24, should be between 90 to 150 degrees.

[0052] Furthermore, a relief face 25 faces the top face 23 of the chip main body 21, and is provided at the tip of the substantially round-headed rod-like protrusion 22, which protrudes at the tip side and is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the chip main body 21. In addition, a cutting-blade 26 is provided at the tip side ridgeline of the relief face 25, and protrudes outwardly from the side face 21A of the chip main body 21.

[0053] The chip 20 is attached to the shank 11 in the following way.

[0054] Firstly, the chip 20 is inserted into the chip installation section 15 until its base face 21B directly contacts the lower face 15B of the chip installation section 15. In this state, the top face 23 of the chip main body 21 directly contacts the first chip restraining face 16 and the bottom face 24 of the chip main body 21 directly contacts the second chip restraining face 17.

[0055] Then, by tightening the clamp bolt 19, the head 19A of the clamp bolt 19 presses against the first chip restraining section 13, and the first chip restraining face 16 elastically changes shape toward the second chip restraining face 17.

[0056] Consequently, the top face 23 and bottom face 24 of the chip 20 are pressed against the first chip restraining face 16 and second chip restraining face 17 respectively, securely pressing the chip 20 into the shank 11.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3, in this state, the wall faces 16A, which form the first chip restraining face 16, each exert a pressing force X at right angles to the wall faces 16A against the wall faces 23A, which form the top face 23 of the chip main body 21. Moreover, the wall faces 17A, which form the second chip restraining face 17, each exert a pressing force Y at right angles to the wall faces 17A against the wall faces 24A, which form the bottom face 24 of the chip main body 21.

[0058] When the chip 20 has been attached in this manner to the tool for bore diameter work 10, the cutting-blade 26 at the tip of the protrusion 22 of the chip, which protrudes from the tip side of the shank 11, outwardly protrudes from one side face 11C of the shank 11. As for example shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 22 is inserted into an inner peripheral face 101 of a work 100, and boring is carried out by using the cutting-blade 26.

[0059] According to the tool for bore diameter work 10 having the constitution described above, the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17 press against the top and bottom faces 23 and 24 of the chip main body 21, attached to the shank 11, and each has a projecting V-shape parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank. Therefore, the first chip restraining face 16 meshes with the top face 23 of the chip main body 21, and the second chip restraining face 17 meshes with the bottom face 24 of the chip main body 21, whereby these faces touch each other and are pressingly secured. Consequently, it becomes possible to maintain high installation rigidity of the chip 20, and to achieve superior positioning precision of the tip of the blade.

[0060] Furthermore, since the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17 form a V-shape parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank 11, strong rigidity can be exerted against a force which intersects the longitudinal direction of the shank 11 at the time of cutting.

[0061] By using the clamp bolt 19 to slightly loosen the clamp of the first chip restraining section 13, the pressing force exerted by the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17 against the top and bottom faces 23 and 24 of the chip main body 21 is reduced, allowing the chip 20 to be attached and removed easily without removing the clamp bolt 19 and thereby increasing workability.

[0062] In the tool for bore diameter work 10 described above, the top and bottom faces 23 and 24 of the chip main body 21 are contacting the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17, but the constitution is not limited to this; the chip 20 can be securely pressed without contact between these faces, obtaining the same effects as described above.

[0063] For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, of the wall faces 23A and 24A, which constitute the top and bottom faces 23 and 24 of the chip main body 21, only the wall faces which are near the side faces 21A of the chip main body 21 are contacting the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8B, of the wall faces 23A and 24A, which constitute the top and bottom faces 23 and 24 of the chip main body 21, only the sections near the intersection ridgelines between the wall faces 23A and between the wall faces 24A, are contacting the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8C, of the wall faces 23A which constitute the top face 23 of the chip main body 21, only the sections near the side faces 21A of the chip main body 21 are contacting the first chip restraining face 16, and in addition, of the wall faces 24A which constitute the bottom face 24 of the chip main body 21, only the sections near the intersection ridgelines between the wall faces 24A are contacting the second chip restraining face 17.

[0064] FIGS. 9 to 11 show a modification of the chip, installed in the shank 11, wherein escapes are provided the top and bottom faces of the chip main body. In the following explanation, the same sections as those of the chip 20 described above are represented by the same reference numerals.

[0065] In this chip 30, the chip main body 21 is thinner by a predetermined depth to form escape faces 23C and 24C except for the tip and base sections of the top face 23 and bottom face 24.

[0066] In the tool for bore diameter work which uses the chip 30 having the escape faces 23C and 24C in its top face 23 and bottom face 24, the same effects as above can be obtained. In particular, since only the chip tip and base sides of the top face 23 and the bottom face 24 are pressed by the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17, the chip 30 can be firmly secured without working the top face 23 and bottom face 24 of the chip main body 21 to exactly the same shape as the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17, and it is not necessary to strictly control the work precision of the chip 30.

[0067] In this embodiment, first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17 have projecting V-shapes parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank 11, and the top face 23 and bottom face 24 of the chip main body 21 have indented V-shapes in correspondence therewith, but the constitution is not restricted to this. As shown by way of example in FIG. 12A, the top face 23 of the chip main body 21 may be an indented V-shape, and the bottom face 24, a projecting V-shape. In the alternative example shown in FIG. 12B, the top face 23 of the chip main body 21 may be a projecting V-shape, and the bottom face 24, an indented V-shape. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12C, the top and bottom faces 23 and 24 of the main chip body 21 may each have a projecting V-shape. In each of these cases, the tool for bore diameter work, which comprises the first and second chip restraining faces 16 and 17 having shapes corresponding to these top and bottom faces 23 and 24, obtains the same effects as above without any deterioration.

[0068] The explanation of this embodiment describes the tool for bore diameter work 10 for carrying out boring work, but this invention can be applied in tools for work bore diameter which are used in other bore diameter work. For example, this invention can be applied in a tool for bore diameter work for groove insertion work 40 as shown in FIG. 13, and in a tool for bore diameter work for screw-cutting work 50 as shown in FIG. 14. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tool for bore diameter work comprising: a pair of chip restraining faces, provided opposite each other at a tip portion of a shank, which is pressed by a clamping unit so that the pair of chip restraining faces move closer to each other, pressingly securing top and bottom faces of a throw-away chip, which directly contacts the paid of chip restraining faces, the throw-away chip comprising a substantially rod-like protrusion having a cutting-blade which projects to the tip side of the shank; the pair of chip restraining faces having an indented or projecting V-shape parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shank, and the top and bottom faces of the throw-away chip having a projecting or indented V-shape which can connect with the pair of chip restraining faces. 